Baggage item

ABSTRACT

With a baggage item from plastic shell elements ( 2,4 ) linked with each other via a hinge ( 5 ) along an edge of the free margins ( 9 ) facing each other and comprising a closing device for holding the shell elements ( 2,4 ) in the closed position, it is provided that the shell elements ( 2,4 ) are formed of a thin, flexible plastic material, and that at least one shell element ( 2,4 ) has an outward protruding peripheral margin ( 28 ) that circumscribes an area, said margin being linked with a lid ( 8 ) by means of a zipper ( 16 ) while forming an outer pocket ( 6 ).

[0001] The invention relates to a baggage item out of two shell elementsfrom plastic material according to the precharacterizing part of claim1.

[0002] Such baggage items, e.g., bags, suitcases or rucksacks, mayconsist of two shell elements of plastic material being linked with eachother via a hinge along an edge of the free margins facing each otherand comprising a closing device, e.g., a lock, for holding the shellelements in the closed position.

[0003] The mentioned baggage items are also made of textile material,such baggage items of textile material having the disadvantage of beingless robust and susceptible to wear to an increased degree. Theadvantage of baggage items of textile material consists in that they arelight-weighted and that they are able to be provided with pocketelements. The baggage items of ABS shell elements have the disadvantageto have a higher weight in comparison with textile baggage items.Further, no additional pockets can be provided on the outside of thesuitcase. In comparison with textile baggage items, however, baggageitems of ABS plastic have the advantage of being more robust and lesssusceptible to wear.

[0004] It is the object of the invention to provide a baggage item ofplastic shell elements which has a low weight and can be provided withput-on pockets, on the one hand, and is robust and not much susceptibleto wear, on the other hand.

[0005] This object is solved, according to the invention, with thefeatures of claim 1.

[0006] The invention advantageously provides that the shell elements areformed of a thin, flexible plastic material and at least one shellelement has an outward protruding peripheral margin that circumscribesan area, said margin being linked with a lid by means of a zipper whileforming an outer pocket.

[0007] To form the shell elements of a thin, flexible plastic materialhas the advantage that the baggage item has an extremely low weight andis even lighter than a comparable textile baggage item. The flexibilityof the plastic material permits to achieve a high degree of filling,similar to that of a baggage item of textile material. At the same time,the shell elements of a high-strength but flexible plastic material arenevertheless robust and resistant to wear to a high degree. In at leastone shell element, at least one outward protruding peripheral marginthat circumscribes an area may be provided, which is linked with a lidby means of a zipper while forming an outer pocket. Due to the fact thatthe flexible plastic material is thin, it can be sewn to a zipper at theperipheral margin, said zipper being sewn to a lid, on the other hand.Thus, an outer pocket can be advantageously formed in a baggage item ofplastic shell elements in order to provide a baggage item withpartitioned loading spaces.

[0008] The plastic material preferably consists of a polycarbonatesheet. Such a plastic sheet can be deep-drawn and has high values ofstrength so that the baggage items can resist to high loads the like ofwhich particularly occur during voyages by airplane. At the same time,the polycarbonate sheet can be manufactured so as to be sufficientlythin so that the baggage item has an extremely low weight, on the onehand, and is sufficiently thin to be able to be sewn, on the other hand.

[0009] The polycarbonate sheet has a thickness of about 1.5 to 2.0 mm,preferably 1.6 mm.

[0010] The lid may have a peripheral margin facing the shell element.This margin may be connected with a side portion of the zipper.

[0011] Preferably, the protruding margin of the shell element and themargin of the lid are bordered by a rand, the side portions of thezipper being connected with the rands and the margins.

[0012] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the shell element isconfigured as a molded part with an integrated integrally formed lidfirst and then, the molded part is separated along a line of separationto separate the shell element with a protruding margin, on the one hand,and the lid, on the other hand. This has the advantage that both theshell element with protruding margin and the lid can be manufactured ina single manufacturing process.

[0013] The sparing in the shell element formed by separating the lid canbe closed by a bottom portion with an outward protruding margin, theprotruding margin being connected together with the abutting protrudingmargin of the shell element, the rand and the one side portion of thezipper.

[0014] In this connection, it is preferably provided that the protrudingmargins are sewn with the rand and the respective side portions of theat least one zipper.

[0015] When sewing with high-strength threads or strong yarns, thestrength of the connection between the zipper and the shell element andthe lid and/or the bottom portion, respectively, can be increased suchthat the baggage item is able to survive high loads without any damage.

[0016] Preferably, the closing device of the shell elements consists ofa zipper as well.

[0017] The zippers of the baggage item and the outer pocket may have twoindependently operable slides.

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention is explained indetail with reference to the drawings.

[0019] In the Figures:

[0020]FIG. 1 shows a view of the main surface of a baggage item.

[0021]FIG. 2 shows a side view of the baggage item.

[0022]FIG. 3 shows a molded part of which a shell element and a lid areformed.

[0023]FIG. 4 shows an enlarged representation of the section IV-IV inFIG. 2.

[0024] The baggage item shown in FIG. 1 has about the shape of anattaché case with an outer pocket 6. The baggage item is formed ofplastic shell elements 2,4 connected via a hinge 5 and held in theirclosed position via a closing device consisting of a zipper 12. Thelower shell element 2 is provided with a handle 10 for carrying thebaggage item.

[0025] The zipper 12 connecting the two shell elements 2,4 may beprovided with two slides 36 that are operable independently of eachother.

[0026] The plastic shell elements 2,4 consist of a high-strengthpolycarbonate sheet with a thickness of about 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. Thepreferred material thickness amounts to 1.6 mm.

[0027]FIG. 2 shows a deep-drawn molded part 24 with which the uppershell element 4 as well as a lid 8 for an outer pocket are integrallyformed. The molded part 24 is separated along the separation line 26,whereby the shell element 4, one the one hand, and the lid 8 aremanufactured.

[0028] The molded part 4 has a recessed peripheral margin 28circumscribing the area of the outer pocket 6 and protruding outwardfrom the shell element 4. To provide the margin with a higher rigidity,it is recessed with respect to a circumferential base 29, as can be seenbest from FIG. 3. When the protruding margin, as shown in FIG. 2, ismanufactured, a sparing is created in the shell element 4 which can beclosed by a bottom portion 22. The bottom portion 22 is manufacturedseparately and has an outward protruding peripheral margin 30 which, asshown in FIG. 3, can be connected with the margin 28 protruding in thesame direction in such a manner that the rear side of the bottom portion22 is preferably in substantial alignment with the inner main surface ofthe shell element 4.

[0029] It goes without saying that more than one outer pocket can bearranged on the outside of the shell element 4. They could be arrangednext to each other or above one another on the outer main surface of theshell element 4 or 6 or also on top of each other when the lid 8 isconfigured with two margins 32 protruding in opposite directions.

[0030] In a further non-illustrated alternative, the molded part 24 maybe manufactured integrally with the bottom portion 22 and only oneoutward protruding peripheral margin 28 may be formed in the molded part24. In this case, a separation of the bottom portion could perhaps beomitted. In this case, however, the lid 8 has to be manufacturedseparately.

[0031] As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the shell elements 2,4 have aperipheral bead 34 at their mutually facing margins 9 at a smalldistance thereto, which protrudes outward and stiffens the margin 9 likea frame. Between the peripheral bead 34 and the margin 9, a stripremains that receives a rand 14 enclosing the margin 9 and beingrespectively sewn to a side portion of the zipper 12.

[0032] As can be seen best from FIG. 3, the bottom portion 22 contactsthe outward protruding margin 28 of the shell portion 4 with an outwardprotruding margin 30, both margins 28,30 being enclosed by a peripheralrand 18. A zipper 16 of the outer pocket 6 is sewn to the rand 18 andthe intermediate margins 28 and 30 via a side portion 15. The seam isprepared by means of a high-strength thread or yarn so that a highstrength of the connection can be achieved which can also withstand highloads of the baggage item.

[0033] The other side portion 17 of the zipper 16 of the outer pocket issewn to a rand 20 enclosing the margin 32 of the lid 8. The lid 8 mayalso be articulately connected with the shell element 4 by means of ahinge 7. The hinges 5,7 consist of an artificial leather material, e.g.,and may be sewn to the shell elements 2,4 and the lid 8, respectivelyand, if necessary, additionally riveted.

1. Baggage item of plastic shell elements (2,4) linked with each othervia a hinge (5) along an edge of the free margins (9) facing each otherand comprising a closing device for holding the shell elements (2,4) inthe closed position, characterized in that the shell elements (2,4) aremade of a thin, flexible plastic material and that at least one shellelement (2,4) has an outward protruding peripheral margin (28) thatcircumscribes an area, said margin being linked with a lid (8) by meansof a zipper (16) while forming an outer pocket (6).
 2. Baggage itemaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the plastic materialconsists of a polycarbonate sheet.
 3. Baggage item according to claim 2,characterized in that the polycarbonate sheet has a thickness of about1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, preferably 1.6 mm.
 4. Baggage item according to one ofclaims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lid (8) has a peripheral margin(32) facing the shell element (4).
 5. Baggage item according to claim 4,characterized in that the protruding margin (28) of the shell element(4) and the margin (32) of the lid (8) are enclosed by a rand (18,20),and that the zipper (16) comprises side portions (15,17) linked to therands (18,20) and the margins (28,32).
 6. Baggage item according to oneof claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the shell element (4) is adaptedto be configured as a molded part (24) with an integral lid (8), andthat the molded part (24) is separated along a line of separation (26)to form the shell element (4) with the protruding margin (28) and thelid (8).
 7. Baggage item according to claim 6, characterized in that thesparing in the shell element (4) formed by separating the lid (8) isclosed by a bottom portion (22) with protruding margin (32), theprotruding margin (30) being linked together with the protruding margin(28) of the shell element, the rand (18) and the one side portion (15)of the zipper (16).
 8. Baggage item according to claim 7, characterizedin that the protruding margins (28,30,32) are sewn to the rands (18;20)and the respective side portions (15;17) of the at least one zipper(16).
 9. Baggage item according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterizedin that the closing device of the shell elements (2,4) consists of azipper (12).
 10. Baggage item according to one of claims 1 to 9,characterized in that the zippers (12,16) comprise two independentlyoperable slides (36).